I'm 51 and met my current partner 16 months ago. I arrived in his life just as a family crisis started to play out (death of his father and my partner taking on caring responsibilities for his disabled mother).
My domestic situation is quite chaotic too, different scenario.
Our relationship has been a source of comfort to both of us but for the last six months or so I have found myself becoming soooooooo irritated and angry with him. I am very self possessed, so I think he's oblivious as to how irritated I feel when he opens his mouth. Even his texts wind me up. Sometimes I feel explosive (although I never show it).
However I am mindful that this can be one of the symptoms of menopause, I am not an irascible person normally. I sometimes feel annoyed with other people too, but again it's self contained.
I feel like I'm poisoning myself keeping things in, but then I don't want to say something I don't mean or later regret in the heat of the moment (I am very hot right now!).
He's not a bad man, and I do find him attractive but this is starting to eclipse the good. I'm also conscious that we women think we've hit the jackpot if we find someone who isn't abusive and doesn't look like a car crash in middle age, so we put up with a lot of stuff like grumpy mood swings, being deprioritised etc.
Am I alone in this? Any stories of hope that this stage will pass? Would love to hear xxx